Kinoteatr Okean

Kinoteatr Okean (Ocean Cinema) is a landmark cinema located in Vladivostok, Russia, on the shore of Sportivnaya Harbor at the junction of Svetlanskaya, Naberezhnaya and Pogranichnaya streets. It was built in 1969 and was the first widescreen and largest cinema in the Russian Far East. The building is notable for its original architectural composition: an elliptical cylinder resting on a single-story flattened parallelepiped, with a large mosaic panel on a sea theme covering over 330 square meters in the foyer. The project was designed by architects G. K. Machulsky and B. I. Levshin at the Moscow institute Giproteatr. The construction introduced a cable-stayed roof structure, the first of its kind in the country, supported by 64 cables. In 1969 the cinema's model was exhibited at the VDNKh USSR and awarded a first-degree diploma. The unique building was included in architectural catalogs in Italy, England and other countries. The first film shown in the main hall was "Wedding in Malinovka" (1969), and in the small hall "Meridian" the documentary "Brem's House". In the early 1990s, due to the collapse of film distribution in the country, Okean ceased operations. Its second life began in the early 2000s. On July 6, 2001, the "Meridian" hall was reopened after reconstruction, and on the same day the Illuzion cinema chain was announced, which included the renovated cinema. On January 18, 2002, the main hall began operating. Both halls are equipped with modern equipment, including Dolby Digital Surround EX (6+1) sound and 3D projection. The main hall has a capacity of 841 seats and a screen size of 22 × 10 m; the Meridian hall seats 225 and has a 9 × 4 m screen. The cinema hosts film festivals, creative meetings, conferences and graduation parties. It has bars, a Singaporean cuisine cafe "Uzala" and a sushi bar. From the balcony there is a beautiful view of the Amur Bay. Since September 2003, Okean has been the main venue of the Pacific Meridian International Film Festival of Asia-Pacific countries. The annual French Film Festival is also held here. On average, more than 1 million spectators visit the cinema per year. In early January 2014, the main hall was closed for technical re-equipment with IMAX equipment, and on December 10, 2014, the Okean entertainment center was reopened after the installation of new equipment. The cinema is part of the Illuzion chain, whose website is illuzion.ru.

The Okean cinema was built in 1969 in Vladivostok, becoming the first widescreen and largest cinema in the Russian Far East. Preparation for construction began in September 1963. The original plan envisaged a capacity of 1,350 seats (1,050 in the main hall and 300 in the small hall), with the main hall volume of 33,000 cubic meters. The building's model was displayed in the foyer of the Ussuri cinema. The project was developed at the Moscow institute Giproteatr by architects G. K. Machulsky and B. I. Levshin. The architectural composition combines two dissimilar volumes: an elliptical cylinder placed on a single-story flattened parallelepiped. Large stained-glass windows occupy most of the facade, and a wide staircase leads from the street to the building. The foyer is decorated with a mosaic panel on a sea theme, over 330 square meters, created by Moscow artists under the direction of T. Partikin. Construction was carried out by Construction Directorate No. 2 of the Glavvladivostokstroy trust. For the first time in the country, a cable-stayed roof covering was used, replacing the traditional structure supported by reinforced concrete beams. The roof is supported by 64 cables fixed to a reinforced concrete belt with a metal ring. In 1969, the cinema's model was exhibited at the VDNKh USSR and awarded a first-degree diploma. The unique building was included in architectural catalogs of Italy, England and other countries. Many central and local newspapers published reports with photographs about the opening, including Pravda, Izvestia, Komsomolskaya Pravda, Sovetskaya Kultura, Leningradskaya Pravda, Krasnoye Znamya, Tikhoookeansky Komsomolets, and magazines Kinomekhanik and Tekhnika Kino i Televideniya, as well as TASS photo chronicle. Photographs of the building were exhibited in Warsaw. Besides the main hall, the cinema has a small hall "Meridian" intended for showing documentaries. The first film shown in the main hall was "Wedding in Malinovka" (1969), and in "Meridian" the documentary "Brem's House". In the early 1990s, due to the collapse of film distribution in the country, Okean ceased operations. The cinema's second life began in the early 2000s. On July 6, 2001, the "Meridian" hall was opened after reconstruction. On the same day, the organization of the Illuzion cinema chain was announced, which included the renovated cinema. On January 18, 2002, the main hall began operating. Turning the cinema into a modern cinema and concert complex, the designers carefully preserved the historical layout of the building. Both halls are equipped with new equipment, including a Dolby Digital Surround EX (6+1) sound system and equipment for showing 3D films. After modernization, the main hall's capacity is 841 seats, screen size 22 × 10 m. The hall is divided into three sectors: regular seats, VIP seats and "kissing seats". The "Meridian" hall seats 225 spectators, screen size 9 × 4 m. In addition to film screenings, the cinema hosts film festivals, creative meetings, conferences, and graduation parties. There are bars, a Singaporean cuisine cafe "Uzala", and a sushi bar. From the cinema's balcony there is a beautiful view of the Amur Bay. Since September 2003, Okean has been the main venue of the Pacific Meridian International Film Festival of Asia-Pacific countries. The annual French Film Festival is also held here. On average, more than 1 million spectators visit the cinema per year. By tradition, graduates of nearby schools meet the dawn on the cinema's viewing platform. In early January 2014, the main hall of Okean was closed for technical re-equipment with new equipment. IMAX equipment was installed. On December 10, 2014, the Okean entertainment center was opened after the installation of new equipment.

• 2014

  In early January, the main hall closed for installation of IMAX equipment; on December 10, the Okean entertainment center reopened.

• 2003

  From September, Okean became the main venue of the Pacific Meridian International Film Festival.

• 2002

  On January 18, the main hall began operating after reconstruction.

• 2001

  On July 6, the "Meridian" hall reopened after reconstruction; the Illuzion cinema chain was announced.

• 1969

  Okean cinema opened; first film shown was "Wedding in Malinovka". Model exhibited at VDNKh USSR and awarded first-degree diploma.

• 1963

  Preparation for construction of the Okean cinema began in September.

Historic landmark cinema and cultural venue in the Russian Far East, part of the Illuzion chain.

• Main hall screenings

  841 seats, 22×10 m screen, Dolby Digital Surround EX and 3D/IMAX equipment.

• Meridian hall screenings

  225 seats, 9×4 m screen, used for documentaries and smaller films.

• Film festivals and events

  Hosts Pacific Meridian International Film Festival, French Film Festival, conferences, graduation parties.

• Dining and bars

  Bars, Singaporean cuisine cafe "Uzala", sushi bar.

1. 1Иллюзион - сеть кинотеатровilluzion.ru
2. 2Kinoteatr Okean - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Океан (кинотеатр, Владивосток) - Wikipediaru.wikipedia.org